BubbleStream

Ernest Gordon Taulbee

A Sibling in Always

Synopsis

When a severely deformed corpse lands on his embalming table, skilled mortician, Horace Carver is forced to confront his apathy towards life and the dark secrets hidden within himself, his family, and his hometown of Always, Indiana.
This stylized novel uses mythology as a base for a narrative that examines the nature of life by exploring the ways we die.

Author Biography

Ernest Gordon Taulbee grew up in a small town in Eastern Kentucky called Salyersville. He received both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Upon completing his MA he moved to Louisville -- where he has lived most of his adult life.
Love of reading and writing has been a theme in his life. Through the decade and a half since he finished his MA, Mr. Taulbee has worked a variety of jobs, from populating a cubicle in a large corporation to making and selling mead. Throughout his whole life, writing has remained his singular professional and artistic passion.

Author Insight

Melody Mourns

At this point, Melody is being witness to her sibling. She never met Aquila Rose in life, but has become Aquila Rose's protector in death.
In this section, she is the loan mourner at the funeral.
It continues with the myth. The "sibling" was Melody's myth.

Book Excerpt

A Sibling in Always

“When I was a little girl, my mother used to tell me about her. At night she would sit on the side of my bed and tell me stories about my sibling in Indiana -- how my sibling was happy. She would tell me about all the adventures my sibling was having and how I would meet her someday. I loved the stories.”

“That’s a good memory,” I say, not knowing what else to say.

“It was for a while. Then I told her I wanted to go to Indiana and meet my sibling. She said I would someday. I guess that day has come,” she says.

“I’m sorry it had to be like this,” I attempt to comfort.

“She said I would someday, and now I have. You know, she would tell me these stories every day, and I would say over and over I wanted to go to Indiana. She said we couldn’t go now, but we never did. I swear, at some point, I decided Indiana didn’t even exist. I didn’t believe in Indiana. I could see it on a map, but I had never been there. It wasn’t real to me,” she continues.

“It’s all too real,” I state.

“It certainly is,” she says. “I would like to sit with her for a while.”

“Okay,” I say. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be outside the door.”

Within seconds of me closing the door, she begins to sing. I stand and listen to her voice, waiting for her to open the door.